Estate planning can be tricky for anyone—but when you’re famous and worth millions, it can get downright dramatic. From ironclad clauses to missing wills, these celebrities prove that what happens after death is often just as interesting as what happened during life.
Let’s take a look at eight fascinating examples of celebrity wills that made headlines—and what we can learn from them.
Famous Inheritance Disputes
Some celebrity estates have caused long legal battles between relatives, executors, and even strangers. Here are some of the most infamous:
1. Anna Nicole Smith: A 20-Year Courtroom Saga
When Anna Nicole Smith married oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall in 1994, many questioned the 62-year age gap. After he died just 14 months later, a bitter legal fight erupted over his $1.6 billion estate.
Marshall’s son inherited nearly everything. Anna sued, claiming her late husband had promised her half. Years of courtroom drama followed—including two appearances before the U.S. Supreme Court. By the time a California court finally ruled in Anna’s favor in 2013, both she and Marshall’s son had passed away.
To make matters more complicated, Anna’s will named her deceased son as her heir, leaving out her infant daughter Dannielynn. Today, Dannielynn remains the sole heir—and may one day receive Marshall’s fortune if the case is reopened.
2. Jim Morrison: Too Simple, Too Soon
The Doors’ frontman left behind a two-page will and named his girlfriend, Pamela Courson, as the sole heir. But Pamela died just three years later without a will of her own.
The result? Her parents inherited Morrison’s estate—now worth millions—while Morrison’s own family had to settle for a small piece after a lengthy legal dispute.
Had Morrison used a trust or named backup beneficiaries, things might have played out very differently.
3. Robin Williams: Too Vague, Too Personal
Robin Williams thought he’d done everything right. He left clear instructions: his three children would inherit his $100 million estate, while his wife would keep their home.
But the will didn’t specify what to do with the contents inside that home—leading to a painful dispute over personal items like clothing, awards, and collectibles. The matter was eventually settled out of court, but it’s a reminder that details matter—especially when sentimental items are involved.
4. Prince: No Will, Big Problem
You’d think a music icon like Prince would have had a solid estate plan. But when he died unexpectedly in 2016, it turned out he had no will at all.
That left his estimated $500 million estate in legal limbo. Dozens of people claimed to be his heirs—including some later proven false via DNA testing. A court eventually named six of his siblings as heirs, but without a will, Prince’s brand, music rights, and legacy remain tangled in ongoing legal battles.
Lesson: even creative geniuses need to plan ahead.
Other Fascinating Wills
Not all famous wills caused chaos. Some simply reflected the personality of the person behind them:
5. George Washington: A President’s Principles
America’s first president made a historic statement in his will: he freed the enslaved people he owned. This progressive decision wasn’t common for his time and set a powerful example.
6. Frank Sinatra: No Room for Drama
The legendary crooner was no stranger to family feuds, so he added a smart clause to his will: anyone who contested it would be disinherited. That helped prevent potential legal messes—and ensured his $100 million estate went where he intended.
7. Benjamin Franklin: Against Bling
In his will, Franklin gifted his daughter a portrait of the King of France adorned with 408 diamonds—but asked that she not turn the gems into jewelry. His goal? To discourage the “useless fashion” of wearing diamonds.
8. Harry Houdini: One Last Trick
Famed escape artist Harry Houdini included an unusual request in his will. He asked his wife to hold a séance every year on Halloween to try to contact him from the beyond. They even had a secret code to confirm his identity if he ever showed up. Sadly, he never did.
Final Takeaway: Plan Ahead—Clearly
Whether your estate is worth a few thousand dollars or a few million, the lesson here is clear: don’t leave things to chance.
This is where Paige come in to help give you the tools you need to make estate planning easy. We’ll guide you through the steps of creating a will, saving documents, preserving memories, and delivering messages to your loved ones after you’re gone.
